I am new to the group and considering lb. As I have been researching my options and surgeons I am finding it very difficult to find reputable and highly recommend dr's nearby. I currently reside in western TX (in the panhandle). I would greatly appreciate any advise/recommendations.

Thank you in advance!

:help:

I do not know of any Dr.'s in your area, but my Dr. is in Houston. I don't know if that is too far for you, but Dr. Hadar Spivak is the best surgeon in the world :mad:

I think he is great.

Best of luck to you in your journey.

Hi Amy...did you go to the forum where you can talk to fellow bandsters in Texas? It's down clsoe to the bottom of the page..that might help!

I was banded in TJ, Mexico by Dr Ortiz, who is second to none in this procedure....in fact he is a proctor, teaching it all over the world!

Good luck...surely Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa has surgeons that do this.....it has certainly grown as a preferred bariatric procedure! Dreamer

Dreamer,

Would you mind sharing what you paid w/ Dr. Ortiz? I have heard many great things about Dr. Ortiz, but not in my insurance network. My insurance will cover 50% w/ a dr in network. There is a Dr. in Lubbock in network but I have heard very mixed things about him and would rather use a dr I know cares about their patients.

Amy....I was private pay! The total cost was $8500.00...plus the plane fair. Could have had it done in Oklahoma City for $37,000.00.

Both my daughter's and I had the surgery the same day.

We think very highly of Dr. Ortiz and his staff. With both daughters' being nurses...they were very impressed with the facilities in TJ. The clinic could not have been more sterile and the care was excellent.

We made one trip back for our first fill which was free....but cannot afford the long and expensive trips. So we have our fills done in Paris, TX....$350.00/per fill.

Hope this helps......Dreamer